Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, responding to your call, I come to you so that you might teach me the ways of your Heart and transform my heart into yours; make me gentle and humble, faithful and passionate in my love, zealous and generous in my service to others.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in you and like the Beloved Apostle, I draw near to you, asking that you hear my prayers and help me in my needs. During this novena I especially ask that you grant me the graces that I am seeking: _____.
Christ-Jesus, you are rich in mercy and love and so I believe that in your Pierced Heart, I will always discover a true place of refreshment and rest. Never let me be parted from you and grant that I may always find in your Heart the strength, protection and sustenance which I so greatly need.
Sacred Heart of Jesus burning out of love for me….inflame my heart with love for you!
Reflection
Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts…
The Christian is one whose whole life is centered on the Heart of Jesus. “For me to live is Christ…” (Phil1:21). This Heart is the axis upon which the Christian’s world spins. No matter where he is or in what circumstances he finds himself, he turns around Jesus. In everything he looks towards that Heart as his point of reference. In material and spiritual matters alike, Jesus is the one he casts his eyes upon for direction. His life, centered on Jesus’ interior presence, is steered by that very presence as with a rudder, guiding his thoughts, words and actions. Jesus’ Heart is at the center of the Christian’s life and everything is seen and contemplated in relation to him.
The Heart of Jesus reigns in the life of a Christian and because he rules, he bears the title of King. Jesus’ Heart is the King of all Christian hearts. Everything is under his control; a true Christian considers himself a slave of his King. “Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus…” (Rom1:1); “Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ…” (2Pet1:1); “James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Jam1:1); “Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ…” (Jude1:1) Yet Christian slavery isn’t one of chains and oppressive submission, rather it is a slavery of freedom. “…you have been freed from sin and have become slaves of God…” (Rom6:22). “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal5:1).
The slavery that a man enters into when he becomes a Christian is one of love. The object of one’s love, no matter what it is, enslaves the loving person; that object becomes the sole passion of his life and everything is subjected to it. The Christian slave loves the Heart of Jesus. It is the King of his life, the only love of his life; it is the epicenter of his life. The Christian slave finds it impossible to separate himself from the Heart of Jesus; He is chained to him, because love doesn’t allow for separation. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? (Rm8:35)
Yet the Christian will see that the slavery he enters into by making Jesus’ Heart the center of his life, is different from the other enslaving loves to which he could possibly chain himself. Slavery to the Heart of Jesus is called friendship and Jesus calls it that himself: “No longer do I call you slaves…but I have called you friends” (Jn15:15).
With Jesus’ Heart beating at the center the Christian’s life, he is directed by him, who is King and Master, but first and foremost who is Friend. The Christian is a free slave, because love sets free, and the Christian is loved by the Heart of Jesus: King, Master and Friend of his life.
The Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
(Prayed each day as the Concluding prayer)
Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, formed in the womb of the Virgin Mother by the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, united substantially with the word of God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty,
Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God,
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High,
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven,
Heart of Jesus, glowing furnace of charity,
Heart of Jesus, vessel of justice and love,
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love,
Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues,
Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise,
Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts,
Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,
Heart of Jesus, in whom dwells the fullness of the Divinity,
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased,
Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received,
Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills,
Heart of Jesus, patient and rich in mercy,
Heart of Jesus, rich to all who invoke you,
Heart of Jesus, fount of life and holiness,
Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, saturated with contempt,
Heart of Jesus, bruised for our offenses,
Heart of Jesus, made obedient unto death,
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance,
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation,
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation,
Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who trust in you,
Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in you Heart of Jesus, delight of all saints
V. Jesus, meek and humble of Heart.
R. Make my heart more like yours.
Share your thoughts on this reflection.
ALaBudde@Legionaries.org
